﻿Skey. — On the Bitter Substance of the Karaka Nut. 317 



wliicli is due those poisonous or other marked effects which may have been 

 observed on the administration of certain of its plants or herbs, or parts of 

 them, to the animal system. 



But especially is this the case in the country we are now settling, the 

 character of its Flora being in certain respects peculiar, and in many cases 

 greatly divei'gent from that of any other country we are yet acquainted with, 

 any addition, therefore, from such a quarter to- the number of active prin- 

 ciples recognised can hardly fail to be of value, as enabling us to attain to 

 a more comprehensive view of the whole subject of vegetable medicinals 

 or poisons — the manner of their association with other principles or with 

 particular orders or parts of plants — and lastly, the mode in which they 

 operate in producing their individual effects ; while there is besides the chance 

 that any principle so isolated and identified may be more useful medicinally, 

 and more readily administered when separated from the plant. 



Altogether the subject appears to be one eminently worthy of careful 

 attention, and I have therefore from time to time examined many of those 

 plants which have come the more prominently under notice by reason of their 

 acknowledged potency in respect of the characters stated. 



The last subject of these investigations has been the kernel of the fruit of 

 the Karaka tree, which, as is pretty well known, is extremely poisonous to 

 man if taken in an unprepared state ; and though I have not yet completed it, 

 sufficient knowledge has I think been arrived at to render a statement of the 

 results so far obtained interesting. 



Not having personal acquaintance with the mode in which the karaka . 

 berry is prepared as food by the natives, nor of its action as a poison, I am 

 indebted to Mr. W. Colenso, F.L.S., for the following accurate information : — 



" 1. Preparation as food. — The kernels were prepared for food thus : — In the 

 autumn a large party would go to the karaka woods on the sea-coast, which 

 were mostly rigidly preserved (tabooed), to gather the fruit ; this was generally 

 done by beating them down with a long pole (hence the term, " ka haere ki te 

 ta karaka" — the verb ta, to liit, or strike, sharp, short, sudden blows with a 

 stick ; the same verb is used in speaking of the operation of tattooing), after 

 which they gathered them up into baskets. In, or near, the adjoining beach 

 large pits were dug for earth ovens, into which, when ready, the karakas were 

 poured, and the earth banked up in the usual way. These ovens were left 

 several hours before they were opened, generally till the next day, or even 

 longer, when the karakas were taken out, put in baskets, laced up, and placed 

 under water, often at the mouth of some neighbouring stream or quasi lagoon, 

 where also they remained some time (I believe a day or two at least), for the 

 double purpose of destroying all remains of the poisonous quality, and for the 

 loosening and getting rid of the slcin and flesh (sarcocarp) of the fruit. When 



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